SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Geography
Spring 2014
GEOGRAPHY 101
Earth’s Physical Environment
TTh 11am-1215pm
Instructor email : tbiggs@mail.sdsu.edu
Instructor: Dr. Trent Biggs
Office: Storm Hall 308C
Office Hrs:W,Th 1230-130pm
or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Why is the Sahara Desert dry? Why are the Amazon Basin and
African Congo wet? What are the causes and consequences of global warming? Where and
why are there mountains? Physical geography addresses such questions by describing the spatial
distribution of climate, water, soil, topography, and biota at the Earth’s surface, the functional
interactions between them, and their relationships with people. In this course we will describe
the basic forces governing the distribution and flow of mass and energy over the Earth’s surface,
and will apply knowledge of those processes to better understand major environmental problems
including climate change, pollution and biological conservation. The theoretical focus of the
class is on the Earth as a set of interconnected systems governed by exchanges of mass and
energy.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of the course students should be able to
1) BASIC GEOGRAPHY
a) Describe the discipline of geography and its areas of study.
b) Name basic features of the global grid and their approximate
location
c) Describe different map projections and their (dis)advantages.
2) ATMOSPHERE AND ENERGY BALANCE
a) Illustrate the Earth’s rotation and revolution and how they affect the energy
balance, mass movements, and climate over space and time.
b) Describe the role of nature and humans in controlling atmospheric
composition
and climate, including uncertainties in climate change science;
3) LITHOSPHERE
a) Identify locations on the Earth with active tectonic/volcanic features, and describe how
tectonics interacts with weathering and erosion to produce landforms and soil properties;
4) HYDROSPHERE
a) Describe the spatial distribution of water resources and human impacts on them;
5) BIOSPHERE
a) Describe the factors that govern the spatial distribution of ecosystems, biodiversity
and biogeochemical cycles;
b) Analyze the effects of climate change and land use on ecosystems, and show on a map
the location of some biodiversity hotspots, both in California and globally;
6) SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
a) Critically analyze differing viewpoints on controversial issues, with a focus on
differentiating scientific statements and value judgments;
b) Appreciate geography as both a quest for beauty and a method to analyze and address
environmental problems.
A major theme of the course is the role of questions in science and geography. All readings and
homework will be oriented around asking and addressing questions, including an appreciation of
what we know and do not know about the Earth. Another theme is the role of visualization and
illustration in forming conceptual models of geographic phenomena. Students will be expected
to draw diagrams of their conceptual understanding more than recall memorized facts.
REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS:
1. de Blij, Muller, Burt, Mason: Physical Geography, Oxford Univ. Press
- Hardcopy available at SDSU Book Store
2. Additional readings will be posted on Blackboard.
GRADING: Homework (4 assignments)
Midterm # 1
Midterm # 2
Final exam
25%
25%
25%
25%
EXAMS: The content of exams will be drawn from the homework, readings, and material
covered in lecture. Exams will be graded on a curve if the highest score is less than 95%. All
exams will require one (1) green scantron sheet (Form 882-E).
- Missed exams may be made up for exceptional circumstances. The make-up exam
may be different from and significantly harder than the original exam. If you miss an
exam, you must contact the instructor within one week of the exam or you will receive a
zero for that exam.
- Re-grades on exams. Students may request that an exam be re-graded. This includes
all questions and may either increase or decrease the score.
LATE HOMEWORK: Homework will be docked 5% for each day late, including weekend
days (e.g if it's due on Friday and turned in on Monday, that's 3x5% = 15% grade reduction).
No late homework will be accepted more than one week after the due date; homework handed in
more than one week after the due date will be given a zero.
COURSE CONDUCT:
- Cheating or plagiarism on homework or exams will result in a zero for that
assignment or exam. Further disciplinary action may result.
- Missed classes. Students must obtain notes from at least one other student if they
miss a lecture. The instructor will not provide notes or review the lecture for students
who missed a class.
- Office hours. Visits during office hours are encouraged. Meetings outside of
established office hours may be made by appointment.
- Emailing the instructor is appropriate to set up office visits, and questions about
course material may be emailed to the instructor. Answers to frequently-asked
questions will be posted on BlackBoard.
** The instructor will not answer emails about homework assignments in the 24
hours before the homework is due, or about exams in the 24 hours before the exam.
- Special needs such as learning disabilities or other disabilities will be handled
individually. Confidentiality will be maintained in all cases.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS
WEEK
DATES
1
2
Jan 23
Jan 28-30
3
Feb 4-6
4
Feb 11-13
5
Feb 18-20
6
Feb 25-27
7
8
9
10
Mar 4-6
Mar 11-13
Mar 18-20
Mar 25-27
11
Apr 8-10
TOPIC
Introduction
Physical geog, systems
Maps and projections
Earth-sun relationships
Radiation
Atmospheric composition
Atmospheric temperature
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric moisture
MIDTERM #1 Feb 27
Climate change
Water resources
Earth’s crust, plate tectonics
Weathering and soil
READINGS AND ASSIGMENTS
Unit 1, 2, 3
Unit 4, 5, online articles
HW#1 due Feb 11
Unit 6, 7, online articles
Unit 8, 9
HW#2 due Feb 25
Unit 11, 12
Unit 18, 19
Unit 11, 38, online articles
Unit 27, 30
Unit 36, 21
HW #3 due Mar 27
Unit 48, 49
Coastal processes and landforms
MIDTERM #2 Apr 10
Apr 15-17
12
Biogeographic processes
Unit 24, online articles
Apr 22-24
13
Global carbon cycle
Unit 24 cont’, 20, online articles
Apr 29- May 1 Biodiversity and conservation
14
Unit 24 cont’, 26 online articles
May 6-8
15
Human societies and physical
HW # 4 due May 8
geography, Review
FINAL EXAMINATION TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1030am-1230pm